Whilst at Sepang last week, did the "Roving Reporter" thingy, and this is what I came up with:

Had a long chat with the guy organising the Bike Expo in Singapore next April. he said all is progressing well, and they are even trying to get permission for camping there as well.

I have a few posters, as per below, perhaps we could stick one up in the Kafe/Joe's etc. Also have a few stickers as well, for anyone interested.

{}

As mentioned in a previous post, the Bike Expo in K.L. would have been better held at the circuit. The Expo had a really nice stand full of most of the Ducati models, (that's bikes not broads), and so no Ducati's on show at circuit.

On Thai tv last month, they had a large segment on MotoGP at Sepang, Sumon from Ride Thailand was chatting to reporters, then a Farang from the Bangkok Harley dealer said some 2008 models would be displayed at Supang, but none were there. (Perhaps they had changed their mind and used the bikes for the "Traveling Road Show" in Northern Thailand.

{}
This shot taken midday on Friday and as you can see not all the display tents are open yet.

Kawasaki had the best display by far, heaps of models on display, a 2,000cc cruiser, sports bikes, trail bikes etc. The Versys was on display, which is the replacement for the KLE. Nice low seat, and the price was RM 46,900 not sure if that included Malaysian rego or not.

What didn't look that good was the way they run the brake hose up over the mudguard from one caliper to another. The dealer there informed me that the Versys has been for sale in Bangkok since March 07.

{}
Check they way the brake hose runs over the top of the mudguard.

Met the guy who organises the tents in the camp ground. Whilst there were only 4 tents of our crowd, Modenas had laid an event for their owners so they had all their tents set up, a food tent and entertainment tent. The organiser said he is happy to arrange any tents for us if we need them, he can also lay on food, and a minibus to collect people from the airport and we have use of the minibus over the week end to drive in KL for some R&R. Jay an Aussie from Melbourne camped next to me was saying that when he went to Phillip Island the previous week, he was chatting to the guys from Sydney/Brisbane, and what it cost them to ride down to the Island, plus entrance fee/accom etc, you could almost do the Sepang trip for a similar amount, so he is going to try and get an Aussie contingent together for next year. Jay mentioned that at the Island all his mates drive down with box trailers full of grog etc.

This year at the circuit, when it was time for the pit lane walk about, most teams pulled down their shutters, and you weren't allowed anywhere near the pits, had to stand a long way back, so you didn't see any more that we could, sitting in grandstand opposite, with bino's, a bit of a rip off there.

{}

{}
Notice how far back they kept the crowds, the previos year's you were allowed to stand right outside the OPEN pits.

{}
And Suzuki kept their shutters up, but put screens in front of their pits so you couldn't see anything

Peter and Dean were there camping again same as last year, but this time they rode down, Peter (who is 66) rode his Phantom 200cc cruiser, all the way from Mai Sai, and Dean also on a Phantom rode down from Surin. Peter's wet weather gear consisted of a plastic raincoat, and we had so much rain on the way down and back, both guys got pretty wet. Plus Sunday nite around 3am (Monday morning), we all got pretty well flooded out, so had to pack the gear up in the rain, but luckily we had a large shelter to hide under. Last year we camped in the same spot by the fence, directly in line with the 'river' that flows past when it rains, I think next time we will move up the hill a bit.

{}
Peter from Mai Sai, gee they wear some funny head gear up there....

{}
Packing up Monday morning, luckily the guys had this large canopy to shelter under as it was pouring down. Peter somehow managed to get all that gear back on his bike.

{}
I took the 'chuck wagon', Honda Jazz so had spare tent, 2 cookers etc so we managed to eat well, especially as Peter had a stash of tinned food with him as well.

Dean will be writing a trip report soon, so you will be able to read about Peter getting his helmet stolen at the Thai border, having to get another visa etc etc.

Once again it was a good week end down there, in the evening the 4 of us, plus Jay from Melbourne would sit around thecapmfire, (gas bottle with burner on top), we would be having tea/coffee etc, and Jay supping his stash ov VB's he bought with him from OZ

So how about a few more guys next year, saw Gus from Chumpon, Jean-Marc from Hang Don, and I believe a few more others were lurking around there.

Hey TJ- excellent report! Great to meet you and Elle down there- sorry we couldnt hook up saturday or sunday- must have been twice as many people as last year. i kept looking for the orange caps again, never saw them. and peter- we were standing next to each other at the autograph session, but i didnt know it was you until i met up with TJ later.
hopefully i'll have the time to ride down next year.
anyway, heres a few pics i took. as you can see, a couple of the smaller teams did open their doors during the pit walk. also got some pics of rossi, melandri, at the badly organized autograph session (just glad i didnt stand in line for that), and some nice folks from malaysia. {}{}{}{}{}{}

Good report and pictures John, right up to your usual high standard. Some good ones from Gus also.
I just spoke to Dean and told him you had posted your report. We will catch up in the next week or so. He said he had a good trip but long - about 4000km all up, even more for his mate Peter from Mae Sai. They also took a few wrong turns around the No 9 ring road which can be a bit of a trick with so many options as you go down it.
Maybe next year !
Cheers,
Peter

Staff Member

Great little report TJ.
Unbelievable & congrats to both Dean & Peter for riding that far on Phantoms just to watch a 45 mins race. It just goes to prove that you don't need to have a big bike to ride far & enjoy yourself. I look forward to Peter & Dean's trip reports.

Rhodie, heaps of Brolly Dollies, and sitting in the grandstand opposite the pits, got a good look thru the binos. You should have been there mate, took a spare tent for you, spare food,etc., couldn't do much more.

(By the way I see you have brainwashed your son now about me and my Pinky things...)

No he thinks you are a legend doing what he did,
two-up, on a knackered chinese scooter!
He wondering about about nmy aversion to all things pink
Though he had the last laugh at my trundling around Vtne
on Fuark's fuscia fifty CC horror.
R shotgunned the 125 before I could!

GypsyRider
I was given free tickets for the pit walk, went thru tunnel and on other side they had already locked the gate to stop you walking to the pits. This was at 16.30 and pit walk ended at 16.45. We showed the guards the schedule saying we had another 15 minutes,but the guards wouldn't open the gate.There was quite a crowd standing by the gate trying to get in, and were really annoyed having paid 500 baht each, and not being allowed in, (at least mine were free/2nd hand).

The row of blue tents you saw with the Modenas crowd, I chatted to the organiser of them and he said he is glad to provide same same service to us, complete with the lunch tent you saw there also.

On Friday whilst in the Kwaka tent, I spoke to a rep there and he seemed quite informative, but what he said about the Versys being on sale in Thailand since March 07, was 'bull' as NSRMike has mentioned earlier when he got an email from Kwaka BKK.

As you say JM, would be good to get a crowd of us down there camping next year, would be a hoot.

AM glad some of you had greater time in sepang & Kl than others...Ok, from my experience, the downsides happened bcos:
- taxi from sepang? No can do. There is a quarkiness in the local laws that forbid town/city cabs from picking up fares outside the citylimit. The only other cab service here would be from the KLIA airport..but then again, these airport taxis are stationed at the airport! Talk about incompetencies! Yes, riding your bike there and pay RM5.00 is probably the fastest way to head back to your hotel after the race days.
A note of caution: There have been many thefts in the bike parks. Bike lost completely (for parts cannibalisation) to various accesories being removed! Yup! Again what incompetencies and they, the Sepang management was supposed to provide security in the bike park!

- Pitwalk - Hahahahahah...yes, it was a rip off this year. Last time, they (DORNA) endorsed this money making distraction. But it looks like the racing teams aren't to happy with strangers poking thier cameras into their workstations! The Sepang management probably need to make the extra money just to 'cover' a bit of the cheap motogp tickets

- eyecandies in kawa booth? - hahahaha...these eye candies were there simply for that. Sex sells! regardless of 'em eyecandies being a total ignoramus about bikes! I hope these candies do look good...do they?

Cheerio.

joko

p/s Yes, GypsyRider, I will contact you when i got to CMai. The restaurant is an italian joint with big tv upsatirs...I met Davidfl and the rest of the boys there for F1 live...I have forgotten the name...its next to the river near the Rama X1 bridge , i think :-(